Change is in the air! We have a new president who is already taking quick action to undo many of the harmful policies of the last administration. We have a woman vice president for the first time in our history. And here at Sister District, we will be making a leadership change as well.

After four years as Executive Director of the Sister District Project, I will be stepping down at the end of February. I am leaving on an incredibly happy note. When I started Sister District, I never imagined it would turn into such a vibrant, impactful organization, and I marvel at what this community has built. My intention was always to get through the 2020 election, and with the new administration safely in place, I have achieved my professional goals here. I will always be passionate about building power in state legislatures, and I will continue to serve as a Senior Advisor to the organization.

I am beyond pleased to tell you that our next Executive Director will be my co-founder, Lala Wu. Lala has helped build this organization from the ground up, and she is perfectly positioned to oversee a seamless transition into Sister District’s next chapter.

Since 2016, Lala has served as the Director of Engagement and Partnerships at Sister District, where she built our volunteer infrastructure to over 150 teams and affiliates across the country. She’s also led the expansion of Sister District’s national partnerships, including with DLCC, EMILY’s List, Run For Something, Supermajority, Swing Left, and Vote Save America. We are thrilled that Lala will be the first woman of color to lead the organization, especially as we expand our partnerships with BIPOC-led organizations and reaffirm our commitment to equity and inclusion.

In addition to being intimately familiar with all aspects of the organization, Lala will also bring a deep understanding of the importance of state policy and the impact it has on people’s lives. Before Sister District, she was an attorney at Morrison & Foerster in San Francisco and Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell in Denver, specializing in environmental, clean energy, and land use law. She also served as a clerk to federal judges in the Northern District of California and the District of Boston. She graduated from UC Berkeley, School of Law, and Barnard College of Columbia University. She is based in San Francisco.

If I could summarize the last four years I would, but that’s an impossible task. We have all been riding a political roller coaster, rising up repeatedly to tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges. But this community has always met the moment with courage and ironclad determination. Because we did not give up, the vision we clung to during some of the darkest moments is now coming into view. We knew it would not happen overnight, and we know there is still a long road ahead, but we are certain that the journey is worth it.

The world met a true American gem on January 20th, the poet Amanda Gorman, who cut to the heart of what lies ahead: “A new dawn blooms as we free it. / For there is always light, / if only we’re brave enough to see it. / If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

Over the years, many of you have kindly expressed gratitude for Sister District. Please know that it is I who am grateful for you, and that the best way to show your appreciation is to stay civically engaged. No single person can save the world, but we can do it together. I will leave this role incredibly humbled by the complexity of challenges we face, but also with conviction that they are solvable, and that every one of us can make a difference.